March 8, 2006

Philippines views corn from bird flu countries with disapproval
 

The Filipino government is discouraging the import of agri-products from countries infected with the bird flu virus to prevent the possible spread of the disease.

Dr. Jean Bacayo, officer-in-charge - regional technical director for operations of the Department of Agriculture said that although no official order has been issued to this effect, the Bureau of Animal Industry discourages such importation.

However, poultry producers who secure import permits may proceed with the importation, he added. Authorities believe contamination can occur through the medium of transportation and that the life span of the virus in these containers is from two to five days.

Birds congregate at areas where there are food and sometimes they could reach storage areas of seeds, he said.

Plans to source corn from Indonesia by the Mindanao Business Council were scuttled after rumours that importation of seeds from countries infected with the virus has been banned.

A delegation from the group had planned to source corn from Indonesia because it was cheaper to buy the seeds from there as Indonesian corn production is subsidized by the government.

The group is still awaiting a report indicating that the bird flu virus can be transmitted through contaminated seeds. The group's chairman, Romeo Serra said he fails to see any indication that the virus can spread from plant to animals. 65 percent of poultry production costs goes to feed and current prices would be a huge burden for producers, he added.